Flying-machine.



. H. TIMBRELL.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED I\U(.-9l 1912.

Patented July 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET1 WITNESSES:

J. H. TIMBRELL.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.9. 1912.

Patented July Ia, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR JgRI-Ifl'hrell,

ATTORNEYS I. IIIIIVIBIIELL.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AuG.9. I9I2.

Mmmm@ Patented July 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"gw Q5 INVIIIIIIIII IIIIIII J. H. TIMBRELL.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED AuG.9, 1912.

Lmg, I Patented July 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. /5 7 25 WITNESSES: INVENTOR'- ATTORNEYS V11' Fl.

JOHN n. TIMEEELL, or BROADWAY, NEW JEEsEY, AssIorNoE or ONE-THIRD 'ro CLAYTON c. TIMBEELL, or EUTHEEEORD, NEW JERSEY, AND oNE-THIED To ALBERT J. HARDING, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of lLetters Patent.

.Patented @1 uly 6, 1915..

tains to make and use the same, reference being, had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates', generally, to improvements in flying machines or aeroplanes; and, the present invention has refi erence, more particularly, to improvements in that class of flying machines provided with a gyro-plane.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a flying machine or aeroplane of the general character and construction hereinafter more fully set forth,

with a device known as a'gyroplane, andv means for operating the same, either by motor-power or by hand, so that in case of l accident to the motor, the gyroplane may be kept in revolution by means of hand-l power, thus enabling the operator to allow the machine togradually settle to the earth without danger to the machine or to the occupants. 4

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and simply constructed mechanism by means of which the propeller may be disconnected from the motor allowing the gyro-plane only to be operated, and thus enabling the operator to raise the machine directly from the ground without first gaining sufficient momentum by the use of wheels and the exerted motor-power for driving the same, and when the flying machine has risen to any desired height the propeller may be engaged in connection with the gyro-plane.

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with a flying Inachine, a gyro-plane which when the machine is in motion, maintains the stability of the machine to prevent the flying machine turning turtle when struck by sudden gusts of wind.

The invention has for its further object to provide a series of operated blades in the gyro-plane which enable the operator to lower or raise the machine without the use of'l the raising or lowering planes situated at the extremities of the machine; and furthermore, the blades may be set at any desired angle, when the machine is in forward motion, to offset the lifting power of the gyro-plane and enable the operator to maintain his desired height.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood fromthe sfollowing detailed description of the present invention.

With the various objects of the present invention in view, the invention consists, primarily, in the novel flying machine or aeroplane provided with a gyro-plane hereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the various arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, all of which will be-Inore fully described in detail in theI following specification, and then nally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended' to and which form an essential part of this specicaton.

The invention is clearly illustratedin-the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a top or plan view of a ying machine or aeroplane provided with a gyroplane, all made according to the principles of the present invention, and illustrating one embodiment of the principal features of this invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the steering rudder and its operating mechanism, however, being omitted from said view; and Fig. 3 is al front view of the flying machine. horizontal. sectional representation, on an enlarged scale, of portions of the flying machine, said section being taken on line 2 2 in said Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow w. Fig. 5 isa detail view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section,

Fig. 4 is a detail the drawings, the referencecharacter l 1ndicates a complete flying machine or `aeroplane embodying the principles of the present invention, the same in the present 1nstance comprising a main frame-work, as 2,

see Fig.` 1 of the drawings, the said framework having any suitable marginal configuration. f

The reference-character 3 indicates a ring'- shaped member, forming a part of the'said main frame-work, and^wl1ich is tied to the like member, or element 7 main frame-work 2 by means of suitably disposed tie-rods or bars 4 and 5. Connecting the two laterally extending tie-rods 4 'with the main frame-work 2 are other suitable tie .or strengthening rods 6. Suitably connected with the rear portionof the said main frame-work 2 is a ring-like member or element 7, a suitable tie-rod 8 extending across this ring-like member or element 7 and longitudinally of thebody of the flyingmachine, said rod 8 being also suitably connected with the ring-shaped member 3. A

cross or strengthening rod or bar 9 may also connect portions of the said ring-like member or element 7 with the said longitudinally extending tie-rod8. p

Suitably hinged to or pivotally connected with the forwardportion of the main framework 2 is a frameA 10, and similarly connected with the rear portionof that part of the main frame-work formed by the ringis another frame 11.

The various frame-portions of the. flying machine are covered with suitable sail-cloth, canvas, or the like, so as to provide the main plane 12 having an open part 13 which is formed by the sa'id ring-shaped member 3, and in which the gyro-plane, previously mentioned, is rotatably arranged in the manner to be hereinafter more fully explained. The hinged or pivoted frames l0 and 11 are also covered with sailcloth or canvas, as 14. Extending downwardly from the said main frame-work 2, and disposed at suitable intervals, are suspension rods, as 15 and 16, the

' rods 15 being connected by two sets of tierods, as 17 and 18, and the rods 16 being connected with some of said rods 15, as

shown more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, by tiefrods 19. Connected with the rods 17 and others of said rods 15 is a suitable frame-work 20 providing a suitable support for a motor 21 from which extends longitudinally of the flying machine and rearwardly, the main driving shaft 22, and a propeller-shaft 22', upon which is suitably mounted a propeller 23.

The reference-character 24 indicates other tie-rods or horizontal supports which carry a suitable platform, as 25. Extending above the said platform, as shown in the several figures of the drawings, is an arrangement of vertical rods or posts 26, the said rods orposts also extending through and beneath the said platform and having their free extremities suitably connected with the tierods 27 and 28 ofthe lower frame-work of the flying machine, as indicated in the dotted outline in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 2, the front and rear rods or posts 26 are made with suitably bent portions 29 which provide suitable bearings in alinement with and in which the previously-mentioned motor shaft 22 and the propeller-shaft 22 respectively revolve, as will be clearly evident. The said vertical rods or posts 26 are provided upon their upper extremities with suitably formed bracket-like members or elements, as 30, formed with bearing-portions or ears each pair of which carries a pin 31, and rotatably arranged upon each pin 31 is a roller 32. Suitably connected with the said front and rearwardly placed vertical rods or posts 26 is a frame-piece or arms 33 having a bearing 34 in which is rotatably mounted a vertical shaft 35 carrying upon its upper endportion a gyrolplanc of the general construction and forthe purposes to be presently more fully described. Upon its lower endportion, the said shaft 35 is provided with a spline 35 upon which is slidably arranged, and is adapted to rotate with said shaft, a bevel-gear 36 and its hub 37. The said gear is preferably arranged beneath the platform 25, and its hub 37 extends into and through an opening 38 in said platform. The shaft 35 is held in its rotatable relation, against vertical sliding movement in the bearing 34, by an arrangement of collars 39 and 40 which are fixed to said shaft, as shown in Fig. 5. The said bevel-gear 36 and its hub 37 are held against displacement from the lower end-portion of the shaft 35 by a nut 41 which is screwed upon the end of said shaft, or by means of other suitably formed retaining or holding means, as will be clearly evident. In order to slide the said bevelgear 36 and its hub 37 in an upward direction from its normal initial position, indicated in saidFig. 5, the said hub is made with an annular groove 42 in which is arranged the forked end 44 of a foot-lever or inmate@ treadle 43 which is pivoted, as at 45, .in a suitable bearing-bracket 46 mounted upon the platform 25, and the operation of which will be clearly understood from an inspection of said Fig. 5. Under' normal initial conditions, the said bevel-gear 36 is in mesh with a bevel-gear 47 which is mounted upon the previously-mentioned motor shaft 22. Thus it will be seen, that the rotary motion of the said motor-shaft 22 is transmitted directly to the said gyro-shaft 35, but the latter can be disconnected from the motorshaft when the bevel-gear 36 is moved out of engagement with the bevel-gear 47, by actuating the foot-lever or treadle 43. To convey the rotary motion of the motor-shaft 22 to the propeller shaft 22', the said shaft 22 is provided with a spline 5l upon which is slidably arranged a bevel-gear 49 and its hub 50, said hub being also provided with an annular groove 48, or the equivalent thereof, Pivotally mounted in a bearing-portion or bracket, as 52, upon the platform 25, is a hand-lever 53, extending through said platform, and having a forked end, as 54, in operative engagement with the grooved part of the hub 50 for throwing the bevel-gear 49 into or out of mesh with the bevel-gear 36.' When 'the gear 49 is in mesh with the gear 36, the rotary motion of the motor-shaft 22 will be communicated to the propeller-shaft 22, to actuate the propeller 23, as will be clearly evident.

When it is desired to rotate the vertical gyro-shaft 35 from the motor shaft 22, without driving or actuating the propeller shaft 22 and the propeller 23, all that is necessary is to operate the hand-lever 53 in such a manner that the gear 49 will be thrown out of mesh with the gear 36, whereupon the shaftV 22 and its bevel-gear 47 will merely cause the gyro-shaft to be revolved, as will be clearly evident. If, however, it is intended to4 revolve the said gyro-shaft 35 and its gyro-plane by hand, incase of an accident to the motor, while up in the air, or for other reasons, the bevel-gear 36 is lifted out of mesh with the bevel-gear 47 by actuating the foot-lever or treadle 43, and the shaft 35 is caused to revolve by means of a manually operated mechanism. One form of such manually operated mechanism con.- sists, essentially, of a pair of bearing-collars 55 and 56 suitably affixed to the rear vertical i rod or post 26, heretofore-mentioned, by

means of pins or set-screws 57, said collars 55 and 56 being connected by a bracket-like bar or member 58 which is formed with a bearing 59. Rotatably mounted upon that part of the said rod or post 26 located between the said collarsA 55 and 56 is a bevelgear 60 which has a hub 61 formed or provided with a sprocket-wheel 62. Suitably mounted upon the gyro-shaft 35 is a` sprocket-wheel 63, and 64 indicates a linkthe operator, the lugs 69 of a crank 70 which is loosely mounted upon said spindle 66. To prevent accidental displacement of the crank from said spindle, the latter is pro-` vided upon its free end-portion with a nut 71, or other suitable enlargement. The operation of these parts is very simple and will be clearly understood from an inspection of Fig. 5 of the drawings. While the mechanism shown in said Fig. 5 is represented as one means for manually operating the shaft 35, it will be understood that any other means may be used for accomplishing the same purpose.

rlhe gyro-plane herein-above mentioned consists, essentially, of a large ring-like element 72 of a suitable light material, and which may be composed of laminated ringlike members, as indicated at 73, and which -may serve as collectors of the electricity contained in the air and produced by the frictional rotation of the rapidly moving ring-like element 72 through the air, the electricity produced and collected being suitably diverted into and transmitted by electrical instrumentalities to storage batteries, or other electrical devices, with which the [lying machine may be provided, but which, however, are not shown in the accompanying drawings, as l propose to make separate application for Letters-Patent therefor. The arrangement of the said ring-like element 72 with relation to the main plane 12 is such that the said element may be located directly in the open space 13, concentric with the ring-shaped member 3. To produce the relative arrangement of the said parts, I have provided a ring-like disk, as 74, which rests upon the previously-mentioned rollers 32, and rotates thereon, the said disk 74 being provided with an arrangement of upwardly extending posts, as 75, with which are suitably connected an upper ring 76,

and a lower ring 77. Connected in a suitable manner with -said upper ring 76 and the ring-like element 72 are suitable stiiien- -ing spokes 78, preferably steel rods; and,

or wings, as 80, which are made of sail-cloth, canvas, or other suitable material, suitable open spaces, as 81, being left between some of said vanes or wings 80, for the purpose` to be presently more fully specified. Suitably connected with and arranged between the said upwardly extending posts 75 is a canopy-like retaining or holding member 82, which. is made with a suitable hub, as 83, into and through which the upper end-portion of the gyro-shaft 35' extends, and to which said hub is suitably and permanently affixed, so that the gyro-plane produced by the ring-like element 72 and the wings or vanes 80, and their connecting parts, will rotate with the rotary movement of the gyro-shaft 35. As shown, tlie said ringlike element 72 is provided with bearingportions or receiving sockets 84, and the said canopy-like retaining or holding member 82 is also provided with bearing-portions 85, said bearing-portions 84 and 85 being in central alinement with the said open spaces 81. Oscillatorily arranged in the said bearing-portions'84 and 85 are the respective end-portions of suitable rods or bars 86, each rod extending across an open space 81 and having fixed thereon, so as to be movable with the rod or bar 86, a deflector-vane or blade 87.

The upper portion' of the shaft 35 is made with4 a groove 88 in which is secured a spline or key 89, and slidably arranged upon said portion of the shaft 35, and the key 89 thereon, is a sleeve 90. This sleeve is provided with a number of upwardly pro- 'jecting fingers, as 91, and the said fingers "91 are pivotally connected by means of pins 92, see Fig. 6, with the slotted portions of short arms 93 which are connected with the end-portions of the respective deflectorvane or blade-carrying rods or bars 86. Thus, it will be seen, that by moving the said sleeve 90 in either an upward or a downward direction, the rods or bars 86 are oscillated and the deflector-vanes or blades suitably set at such angles to the plane of the gyro-plane, as may be Vnecessary, while moving the flying machine upwardly or downwardly through the air, or

ywhile floating horizontally. That the said sleeve may be moved in its upward or downward direction upon the shaft 35, the said sleeve is provided with an annular groove 94 in which is a ringor sleeve 95 provided with pins 96. Gperatively connected with said pins 96 is the forked endportion 98 of a lever 97, said lever being `pivotally connected, as at 99, .to one of said rods or posts 26, substantially as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and being provided with a handle 100 which is suitably connected with said lever 97, to properly operate the said parts.

To operate and set the previously-mentioned frames 10 and 11, forming the vanes 14 at the front and rear of the flying machine, any suitable means under the control of the operator may be employed. One means is to provide the respective frames 10 and 11 with downwardly projecting arms 101 and 102, the arm 101 having a slotted l forth in a general manner one arrangement and combination of devices and parts comprising the principles of the present invention, I will now briefly set forth the manner of raising and lowering the flying machine, and at the same time maintaining its stability while sailing at any height in the air, irrespective of any conflicting aircurrents. 1

In starting, the motor is set in operation, the propeller-shaft and its propeller having been' thrown out of gear, so that the propeller will be out of action, the shaft upon which the gyro-plane is-mounted being in gear with the motor-driven shaft. The result is that the gyro-plane lifts the flying machine from the earth into the air, without the use of the usual running wheels ordinarily employed. Upon reaching the height desired, the propeller-shaft and propellerf are also thrown into gear, whereby the flying machine is propelled through the air, in the manner usual in flying machines, the vanes 14 being used for raising and lowering the flying machine during its flying operations. During these operations, the gyro-plane is still in motion, and during the propulsion of the flying machine will maintain its stability irrespective of conflicting air-currents which would otherwise tend to cause the flying machine to turn V turtle. At the same time, the blades in the gyro-plane may be operated to lower or raise the flying machine without the use of the raising and lowering vanes located at the extremities of the flying machine.

In case of accident to the motor or probeller, whereby the flying machine would be rendered uncontrollable, might cause its destruction and endanger the life of the operator, the gyro-shaft can be thrown out of gear with the motor-shaft, the gyro-shaft being manually operated, and at such speed, that the (gym-plane will counteract the falling spee of the flying machine, so thatthe gyro-plane acts very much like a parachute, and allows the ilying machine to be easily and slowly lowered and which A mantas .without any 'danger to life or .destruction set forth in the foregoing specification and as claimed in the clauses of the claims which are appended thereto.- Hence, do not limit my present invention to the exact arrange- .ments and combinations of the various d e- Avices and parts, as described in the said specification, nor do l conne myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts and the frame-work of the ma.

chine, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim:

1. A flying machine comprising in -combination with the main frame-work thereof, a main plane mounted uponsaid frame-work, a shaft vertically mounted upon said framework, means for actuating said shaft, vertical posts connected with said frame-work, rollerbearings upon said posts, a ring-like disk rotatably arranged upon said roller-bearings, upwardly extending posts upon said ring-like disk, rings connected with said last-mentioned posts, a canopylike holding member upon said shaft, said member being secured to said last-mentioned posts, and a gyroplane connected with said rings.

2. In a flying machine, the combination withl the frame-work thereof, of a main plane mounted upon said 'frame-work, a

shaft vertically Amounted upon said framework, means for actuating said shaft, vertical posts connected with said frame-work,

roller-bearings upon said posts, a ring-like *disk rotatably arranged upon said rollerbearmgs, upwardly extending posts upon said rmg-like disk, rings connected with said last-mentioned posts, a canopy-like holding member upon said shaft, said member being secured also to said last-mentioned p osts, and a gyroplane connected with said rings, said gyro-plane consi'stingof a ringlike element, stidening spokes between said rings and said ring-like element, and supL porting vanes connectedl with saidspokes,

said rings and said rin -like element.

3. ln a dying machme, the combination with the frame-work thereof, of a main.

plane mounted upon said frame-work, a

'shaft vertically mounted upon said framework, means for actuatin said shaft, vertical posts connected with said frame-work, v

said rings and said ring-like element, said supporting vanes being provided with openings'between some of'them, blades in said openings, and means for angularly setting said blades.

4. 1n a flying machine, the combination with the frame-work thereof, of a main plane mounted upon said' frame-work, a shaft vertically mounted upon said framework, Ameans for actuating said shaft, vertical posts connected with said frame-work, roller-bearings upon said posts, a ring-like disk rotatably arrangedupon said rollerbearings, upwardly extending posts upon said ring-like disk, rings connected with said last-mentioned posts, a vcanopy-like holding member upon said shaft, said member being secured also to said last-mentioned posts, a gyro-plane connected with said rings, said gyro-plane consisting of a ringlike element, stidening spokes between said rings and said ring-like element, and supporting vanes connected with'said spokes, said rings and said ring-like'V element, said supporting'vanes being provided with open- .ings between some of them, oscillatory rods ing fingers uponsaid sleeve, and crank-arms between said fingers and the rods upon which said blades are arranged.

ln testimony, that I claim theinvention set forth above l have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of August, 1912.

30m H. TMRELL. Witnesses FRED D. FRAENTZEL, FREDK H. W. FRAnNTzEL. 

